Lady Ching was a well- travelled person. However, not many knew her travels were because she was searching desperately for someone, a child, a child with something precious.

She walked towards the pavilion where the group was waiting for her. She had deliberately walked slowly, taking her time so that she could observe the two young guests.

Lady Ching had seen many things and had met many people. The pretty girl sitting in the pavilion with her handsome brother, Lady Lay and Lay Ting Ting was perfect, too perfect. Something was off.

The girl had the features of her former Master and Mistress, the face that she had been searching for all over the country for the past thirteen years. XueHua had the Master's beautiful dark eyes and long lustrous silky black hair, the Mistress' flawless pale skin and soft rosy lips. The young woman moved with a subtle yet lethal precision, Lady Ching recognised the controlled grace of someone who practiced martial arts, she was sure this girl could handle herself. She was also the correct age.

Lady Ching had only one problem with the girl, well, technically two.

One, she had a brother. The person she was looking for was an only child. The second problem was that she was looking for a male child, the firstborn son, heir to the Zhen family.

Lady Ching was in a dilemma. XueHua was the closet she had come to the lost heir of the Zhen family. The girl was perfect but was the wrong sex. She grinded her teeth in frustration.

She had come to the Lay mansion with such high hopes. She had inspected Jin first because he was male. He was gorgeous and charismatic but she dismissed him almost immediately, he did not have the traits of either the Master or Mistress.

The girl however, had both. She was calm and reserved, quietly observing everyone. She was almost the embodiment of Lady Ching's lost Master and Mistress merged into one body. Maybe, she should test the girl after all.

Lady Ching smiled as she entered the pavilion. She sat down opposite XueHua and without warning threw three naked blades at the girl's face. XueHua's eyes widened alertly but she did not panic or scream. She moved her head only slightly, to the left, then right, then leaned backwards, neatly avoiding the flying missiles. She stayed seated the whole time.

Jin was tensed, ready for action but stayed calm. He knew Xuelei could handle himself.

The next volley of blades came almost immediately. Xuehua turned a full circle in her seat, her long black hair flinging out as the little knives missed her face. She smiled sweetly as she deftly caught the last one between her index and middle finger, flicked her wrist and sent it flying back at her attacker.

Lady Ching gasped as she dodged her own blade. It thudded behind her, burying itself deeply into the support pillar. Xuelei had used the momentum of the blade, redirecting it back to its source. Her precision was amazing. Lady Ching was impressed. The girl was fast, alert and had used minimal energy to deflect her attack.

Lady Ching 's smile widened and she bowed slightly acknowledging XueHua's skills. A skilled assassin indeed. She had not believed Ting Ting's wild tales of the girl's actions in captivity, especially when her physical description contrasted so much with her supposed deliberate actions of taunting the kidnappers. No sweet young girl would deliberately put herself in danger to save strangers especially if it meant a brutal beating unless ... she was highly skilled and trained to do so safely.

Xuelei returned Lady Ching's smile. Jin relaxed.

Lady Lay and Lay Ting Ting stared open mouthed.

"What are you doing? That's my friend! You could have killed her!" Ting Ting gasped in horror.

"Ching! What was that? These are my daughter's guests!" Lady Lay cried in alarm. "I'm so sorry XueHua, Jin."

Xuelei took a delicate sip of tea, covering his face whilst Jin reassured the Lady of the house. "It is quite alright Lady Lay, no one was hurt. My sister was never in any real danger." He placed one hand on Xuelei protectively. "So, did she pass your test, Lady Ching?"

Lady Ching laughed. "How perspective of you young man. Both your calm demeanour speaks highly of the Assassin Sect. I have to admit, I am impressed, you are both professionals."

She paused before letting out a sigh. "I'm sorry XueHua, I'm afraid you are not the person I am looking for. I was so sure my long search had ended ... "

Xuehua lifted her head, "Lady Ching, if I may be so bold, who are you searching for?"

"Yes, tell us, we may know of such a person."

Lady Ching took a moment to think. She was quiet for a while, then her face changed as she seemed to come to a decision.

"I hope so. It is my life's quest to find this person. I am not even sure if he is still alive."

Xuelei stilled at the revelation. This woman was looking for a man!

Lady Ching started her story.

"I was once the disciple of a famous swordsman. He had many disciples but only one female disciple. Me." She smiled in remembrance. "I was determined to learn from the best so one day I disguised myself as a boy and begged him to teach me. I think he saw through my disguise immediately, but decided to see if I could stick it out. Also, his Lady was there when I approached him. She was a gentle creature and he loved her dearly. He couldn't refuse her when she persuaded him to teach me."

"Maybe he thought I would give up on my own when the training got to strenuous."

"After studying with him for a few months, my secret was exposed. I won't go into the details but anyway, after that I was allowed to learn from my Master but only with the Mistress's presence. Also I was to serve the gentle Mistress and be her personal companion. She didn't know any martial arts."

Lady Ching's face had taken a faraway look as she remembered the past.

"The Master and Mistress had just celebrated the third birthday of their only son when tragedy struck. Everyone had retired for the night. The Master had gone to his study to read and the Mistress was putting her son to sleep. I was there in the room, making sure she had everything before I turned in for the night."

She lapsed into silence. Lady Lay prodded her, "Ching, tell them what happened. I know it's painful to relive those memories but if they can help you they will."

Lady Ching broke out of her reverie with a start and looked at Xuehua. "Anyway, there was a fire and the whole place burned down. Everyone was suspiciously lethargic; they had no energy and could hardly move. They were unable to save themselves, let alone others. I think the wine was contaminated by a drug, only those who drank in celebration to the little boy were affected."

"My Master, Mistress and all the other disciples, everyone had drank the wine. Servants and maids ran around screaming but soon succumbed to the thick smoke."

"I was saved indirectly by the Mistress. She told me I could only celebrate after her little boy was asleep as I had to help take care of him. He was a handful. I was upset at the time and thought how unfair it was that I couldn't enjoy myself with the others."

Jin cast a worried look at Xuelei. He was listening with rapt attention to Lady Ching's narration, an intense look on his face. Did he think it was about him?

"During the fire, a woman dressed in black came into the Mistress's room and killed Lady Zhen cruelly. I won't go into the gruesome details. I was almost unconscious from the smoke but I saw it all. She pulled the young Master from the Mistress's dead embrace. He was ... he was covered in her blood. Her corpse was not even cold yet! She took him. She took the boy."

"I lost consciousness after that and woke up safe in the nearby forest. I don't know who saved me."

Lady Ching wiped her wet eyes. "Later I heard that my Master had also died in the fire. He had drunk a lot of wine that day ... He toasted everyone in honour of his son. He was so proud of his little boy."

"I have been searching for the boy ever since hoping that he is still alive. His parents had given him a piece of priceless jade for his birthday. It is essential that I find him."

Xuelei had gone white and motionless.

"I'm sorry. You are definitely not him, the boy I am looking for but I must admit you are the closest match."

Jin nudged Xuelei. "Are you okay?"

Xuelei blinked and recovered himself. "Uh, umm, yes, of course. It is just so sad." He swallowed. "Did you discover who the masked murderer was? Are you also seeking revenge for your Master and Mistress?"

"You are such a sweet girl to care so much." Lady Ching was looking oddly at Xuelei, a thoughtful expression on her face. He quickly lowered his gaze, staying in character. It wouldn't do to be exposed now.

"Forgive me for asking, but is Jin really your flesh and blood?"

Jin placed a hand on Xuelei's shoulder. "I am her brother and always will be. Unfortunately I am not her flesh and blood. You see, we are both orphans. We found each other when we were very young. I have been taking care of her ever since."

Lady Ching's eyes narrowed and she mumbled under her breath, "He is not her blood brother."

Jin and Xuelei carefully kept their expressions neutral.

Talk turned to other random topics after that but Lady Ching kept glancing at Xuelei. Ting Ting took the opportunity to talk to Jin.